Medical lead connector system

Abstract

An implantable medical device system including an implantable electronic device having multiple electrical connectors and an associated electrical lead also having a corresponding set of electrical connectors which engage with the connectors on the device. The lead has a connector assembly mounted to its proximal end, including the lead's electrical connectors and a mechanical connector. The device has a connector block with a bore extending therethrough sized to receive the connector assembly of the lead. A pulling tool is provided for pulling the lead connector assembly proximally in the bore of said connector block from a first position in which the lead's connector assembly is not fully inserted in the connector block to a second position in which said connector assembly is fully inserted in the connector block, the pulling tool being provided with a mechanical connector which engages with mechanical connector on the lead's connector assembly.

In conjunction with the above disclosure, we claim: 
     
       1. An implantable medical device system comprising an implantable electronic device having a first plurality of electrical connectors and an associated electrical lead having a second plurality of electrical connectors engagable with said first plurality of electrical connectors, wherein: said lead comprises an elongated lead body having proximal and distal ends and having a connector assembly mounted to the proximal end of said lead body and having said second plurality of electrical connectors mounted along said connector assembly, said connector assembly further comprising a first mechanical connector; and   said device is provided with a connector block having a bore extending therethrough from a proximal opening to a distal opening, sized to receive said connector assembly and having said first plurality of electrical connectors located along said bore such that on full insertion of said connector assembly into said connector block through the distal opening of the bore of said connector block, said second plurality of connectors engage said first plurality of connectors; and wherein said system further comprises: pulling tool means for pulling said connector assembly proximally in said bore of said connector block from a first position in which said connector assembly is not fully inserted in said connector block to a second position in which said connector assembly is fully inserted in the bore of said connector block, said pulling tool means having a second mechanical connector at a distal end thereof engagable with said first mechanical connector and an elongated member sized for insertion into the proximal opening of the bore of said connector block and extending proximally from said second mechanical connector for a length sufficient length to extend proximally out of the proximal opening of the bore of said connector block when said connector assembly is in said first position and said second mechanical connector is engaged with said first mechanical connector; whereby   said elongated member may be grasped and pulled proximally to pull said connector assembly from said first position to said second position.     
     
     
       2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said second plurality of connectors are arranged linearly along said connector assembly. 
     
     
       3. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising means for sealing the proximal and distal openings of the bore of said connector block when said connector assembly is fully inserted in said connector block. 
     
     
       4. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said first plurality of connectors comprise means for frictionally engaging said second plurality of connectors. 
     
     
       5. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said first plurality of connectors comprise means for frictionally resisting proximal movement of said connector assembly to said second position. 
     
     
       6. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising means for sealing between adjacent ones of said first plurality of electrical connectors. 
     
     
       7. A system according to claim 6 wherein said sealing means comprise means for frictionally resisting proximal movement of said connector assembly to said second position. 
     
     
       8. A system according to claim 6 wherein said sealing means comprise resilient sealing rings. 
     
     
       9. A system according to claim 8 wherein said sealing rings are mounted within said connector block. 
     
     
       10. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said first and second mechanical connectors are provided with internal and external screw threads, respectively. 
     
     
       11. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein one of said first and second pluralities of connectors comprises connectors having conductive spring means for engaging the other of said first and second pluralities of connectors. 
     
     
       12. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein one of said first plurality of connectors comprises connectors having conductive spring means for engaging said second plurality of connectors. 
     
     
       13. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said connector assembly is generally cylindrical and isodiametric from one of said second plurality of connectors to an adjacent one of said second plurality of connectors. 
     
     
       14. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising insertion stop means for preventing proximal movement of said connector assembly beyond said second position. 
     
     
       15. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising an elongated introducer catheter having an elongated lumen through which said lead body may pass and wherein said elongated member of said pulling tool means has a length greater than said introducer catheter. 
     
     
       16. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the elongated member of the pulling tool means comprises a visual indicator means for indicating that said connector assembly is fully inserted in said connector block. 
     
     
       17. A method of interconnecting an implantable medical device having a first plurality of electrical connectors and an associated electrical lead having a second plurality of electrical connectors engagable with said first plurality of electrical connectors, said lead comprising an elongated lead body having proximal and distal ends and having a connector assembly mounted to the proximal end of said lead body and having said second plurality of electrical connectors mounted along said connector assembly, said device provided with a connector block having a bore extending therethrough from a proximal opening to a distal opening, sized to receive said connector assembly and having said first plurality of electrical connectors located along said bore such that on full insertion of said connector assembly into said connector block through the distal opening of the bore of said connector block, said second plurality of connectors engage said first plurality of connectors; said method comprising: inserting a pulling tool into said bore of said connector block so that it extends through said proximal opening and mechanically engaging it with said connector assembly;   pulling said connector assembly by moving said pulling tool proximally, from a first position in which said connector assembly is not fully inserted in said connector block to a second position in which said connector assembly is fully inserted in the bore of said connector block.   
     
     
       18. A method of implanting an electrical lead, said lead comprising an elongated lead body having proximal and distal ends and having a connector assembly mounted to the proximal end of said lead body and having a second electrical connector mounted to connector assembly, said medical device provided with a connector block having a bore extending therethrough from a proximal opening to a distal opening, sized to receive said connector assembly and having said first electrical connector located along said bore such that on full insertion of said connector assembly into said connector block through the distal opening of the bore of said connector block, said first and second electrical connectors engage one another, said method comprising: advancing said lead to a desired location in a patient's body,   mechanically engaging a pulling tool with said connector assembly; inserting said pulling tool into said bore of said connector block so that it extends out said proximal opening of said connector block; and   pulling said connector assembly by moving said pulling tool proximally, from a first position in which said connector assembly is not fully inserted in said connector block to a second position in which said connector assembly is fully inserted in the bore of said connector block.   
     
     
       19. A method according to claim 18 wherein said advancing step comprises advancing said lead through a catheter to said desired location and wherein said inserting step comprises inserting a pulling tool having means for mechanically engaging said connector assembly and an elongated member extending proximally from said engaging means, further comprising: and sliding said catheter proximally over said elongated member while said pulling tool is engaged with said connector assembly while holding said pulling tool to retain said lead in said desired location.   
     
     
       20. A method of implanting an electrical lead and connecting it to an implantable medical device having a first electrical connector, said lead comprising an elongated lead body having proximal and distal ends and having an electrical connector assembly having a second electrical connector mounted to the proximal end of said lead body, said method comprising: advancing said lead through a catheter to a desired location in a patient's body,   mechanically engaging with said connector assembly a tool having means for mechanically engaging said connector assembly and an elongated member extending proximally from said engaging means;   sliding said catheter proximally over said elongated member to remove it from said lead while said tool is engaged with said connector assembly and while holding said pulling tool to retain said lead in said desired location; and   coupling said first and second electrical connectors.